Prayers and hope for missing Madeleine on second anniversary

Published on Sunday 3 May 2009 22:11

VILLAGERS united in prayer for Madeleine McCann last night on the second anniversary of her disappearance.

An inter-denominational service was held at Rothley Parish Church, in the McCanns' home village of Rothley, Leicestershire.

Rev Rob Gladstone said the 14th-century church was full, with a congregation numbering more than 150, compared with a normal Sunday night turnout of around 40 people.

Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, were not at the service, having spent the weekend away from home, but other relatives living in the village did attend.

Rev Gladstone said: "It was meant to be fairly low key, but a lot more people came along than I expected. That was such a huge encouragement to the family, to see so many people still wanting to pray for them."

It is two years since the youngster disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on 3 May, 2007. Yesterday's mass at the McCanns' Catholic church Sacred Heart in Rothley, was dedicated to Madeleine and her family.

The McCanns are understood to have opted to spend a private weekend away from the spotlight with their four-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie.

They are hoping an age progression image of how their daughter may look now, along with a Channel 4 documentary to be aired on Thursday, will jog memories of people who were in Praia da Luz two years ago.

The documentary, Cutting Edge: Made-leine Was Here, follows detectives Dave Edgar and Arthur Cowley as they try to piece together what eye-witnesses say happened. They have looked through 30,000 files of information released by Portuguese police about their investigation when the case was shelved last summer.

Despite numerous leads since Madeleine's disappearance, the investigation drew a blank, but it is hoped new leads may emerge with renewed interest in the case.

Yesterday, the community in the quiet Leicestershire village joined in the family's hopes of finding Madeleine. Villagers spoke of their ongoing concern about the situation.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "We are all still worried and would like to find Madeleine – nobody wants to give up hope.

"In the early stages the centre of the village was a picture, full of flowers and yellow ribbons.

"They are gone, but I think most people will still be thinking about it.

"You have to think if it was ever one of your own – it doesn't bear thinking about."